Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-11-19

president on the subject before replying
to Sparks letter, and it is very evident
that he will haye the cooperation Of
Cleveland In forcing Sparks out of the
department. The affair is thus practi-
cally reduced to a fight between the
president and the commissioner, and
the INTER- OCEAN has no hesitancy in
saying that its sympathy is with the
Commissioners.
Sparks was appointed to the Office Of
land commissioner, not because he had
any special fitness for the place, but be.
cause he was on record as a most vio-
lent opponent to the beneficsnt land
laws enacted by the Republican party.
He had fought these laws IN congress
and out of congress, for purely political
reasons, until he was universally known
as land crank. Cleveland's object when
he gave Sparks the commisslonership
was to have him continue his assault
upon the land laws. Sparks assertion that
IS per cent of the western settlers were
thieves and scoundrels was fully Endorsed
by Cleveland. The commissioner has
had the hearty support of the president
in allthe damnable outrages perpetrated
against these settlers. Not a word OF
protest has been made by Cleveland
against q single action of the commits
sioner. Repeated appeals have been
made to the president by persons suf.
ferlng under the unjust infections EN-.
anating from the general land Office,
but these appeals were not needed.
The president believed that Sparks
policy was making votes for the Demo.
cracy in the east, and he turned a deal
ear to the protests of western settlers.
The opposition to Sparks policy
finally reached New York. Eastern
capital began to feel the effects of his
rulings and decisions. The New York
press took up the case, and the com.
missioner was severely criticised. These
criticisms caused uneaslness at the
white house. The president became
convinced that Sparks was lnjuring tn.
administration politically and he mus
be suppressed.
It would not do to admit that his
"pollcy" was wrong, for that would be
an admission that the administration
was wrong; so it was arranged to at
tack him personally for insubordina
ton in Office. In other words, Spark.
is to be punished for the faults of hi
superior, the president. He has been {
faithful officer; he has performed thu
duties required of him, but performed
them too well. He was appointed tt
cry fraud and he did cry fraud. HI
was appointed to nullify the land laws
because these laws were the work ant
pride of political opponents, and he ha'
almost succeeded in their notification
He was appointed to defy and ignore
the rulings and decisions Of his pre-
decessors, and he has been especial!
industrious i'll this regard. He was ap
pointed to oyerturn the acts of congress
and to set aside supreme court decisions
no man ever came so near accomplish
ing these objects as COMMISSIONS
Sparks.
For three years he has been sustaine'
by the president in all that his contrac
called for. Insubordlnation-the presen
alleged cause for demanding. his re
moval--is not a new feature of his re
markable r He lnsulted the dig
nifty of his immediate superior-Lama
when he had been in Office only
month. There were az strong ground
for his removal then as now His recor
has been one of constant insubordins
ton. In fact he could not be a sub
ordinate and accomplish the work II
quired Of him. He must be greater il
his sphere than the secretary of the in
terror. He could not set aside the act
VI congress and be subordinate to an
one over whom congress had authority
He could not uproot the decisions of tn
supreme court and at the same time b
dictated to by an official who had take
an oath to follow and be guided by thos
decisions.
Sparks is simply a martyr to a dut
which the head OF his party requires
him to perform. He is the victim c
misplaced confidence, and it is fifth
that there should be inscribed upon hi
official tomb this epltaph:
Well done, thou good and faithful servant.
You WORTH wisely but too we'll.
Your policy q injurlng me politically,
Dnt it is not your fault.
alone am to blame.
hereby recommend you to any one desiring to hi
= man who will do what ho is told to do.
GROVER CLEVELAND,
Your late employer.
DIVISION DEMANDED.